Multiscale rule



D. L. FULLILOVE MULTI S CALE RULE 5 She'ets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2e, 1946 Ank lllal! mi vm @QM mm .Anm.wwwmwimwmmmllllmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmwWEEEEEEE......EEEEE om br, @E nl :E: g KS* v M W. ,w m wl N N v N\\ m.. Hvw

April 26, 1949.

D. L. FULLILOVE MULTI SCALE RULE Filed July 26,- 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 da if jade/7707 Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in multiscale rules.

An object of the invention is to provide a rule whereby one unit of measurement may be interpreted in terms of another unit of measurement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rule lhaving a body with a plurality of architectural scales thereon, and a rotatable member carried by said body with a plurality of engineering scales thereon, and movable alignment means which when moved into registry with a graduation on one of said scales, indicates related graduations on one or more of said other scales.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rule having a hexagonal faced prism rotatably disposed in a housing, with graduations on each face of the prism, and having a micrometrically movable slider on said housing, which slider is movable longitudinally relative to said prism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a precision rule of the type described, which is simple in construction, is easily and inexpensively manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved rule,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the rule shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rule shown in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a left hand end in elevation of the rule shown in Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is a View of scales on the right hand side of the rule, that is, at the upper part of the rule as shown in Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a view of scales on the left hand side of the rule, that is, at the lower part of the rule as shown in Figure 1, and j Figure 9 is a developed view of the engineering scales on the hexagonal prism carried in the rule. y Reference is now had to the drawings, in which like reference characters denote similar parts throughout the several views. As shown, there is a rule body 2, which may be made of Wood, celluloid, or other suitable material, and is of any length suitable for the purpose, such as twelve inches, eighteen inches, twenty-four inches, or even longer. The rule body 2 has parallel upper and lower surfaces 4 and 6, with upwardly convergent right and left hand sides 8 and ID, respectively, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

An elongated strip I2 is secured to the right hand side surface 8 of the rule body 2, and a similar strip I4 is secured to the left side surface I 0 of the rule body, both strips being substantially as long as the rule body itself, and formed of a material which may be readily provided With highly visible graduations along its outer surface. On the outer surface of right side strip I2 are formed four longitudinal scales I6, I8, 20 and 22 shown in Figures 7 and 1. These four scales are architects scales 3% and a; 1/8 and 1A; 3A; and and 1/2, respectively. On the outer surface of left side strip I4 are formed four longitudinal scales 24, 26, 28 and 30 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8. These scales are architects scales 1; 11/2 and 3; and 16, respectively; and a metric centimeter scale at the bottom, the last scale being drawn to a scale of one inch to 2.54 centimeters. As best seen in Figure 6, the side strips I2 and I4 have longitudinal tongued side edges 32, 34, 36 and 38, for a purpose to be explained below.

Scale I6 has 128532 and 64135 marked graduations or a total of 512 divisions. Scale I8 has 961/8 and 48%," marked graduations or a total of 576 divisions. Scale 20 has 32%" and 16%," marked graduations, or a total of 384 divisions. Scale 22 has 241/2" marked graduations or a total of 576 divisions. Scale 24 has 12 1" marked graduations or a total of 576 divisions. Scale 26 has 8 11/2" and 4 3" marked graduations or a total of 384 divisions. Scale 28 has 12 16 marked graduations or a total of 192 divisions. The centimeter scale 30 has 301/2 marked graduations to the 12 inch rule. Each marked graduation is divided into ten equal divisions, making a total of 305- divisions to the 12-inch rule.

The rule body 2 has a longitudinal groove or slot 40 in its upper surface 4, which communicates with a longitudinal bore 42. It will be obl. served that the slot 40 is as long as the rule body 2. However, the bore 42 is reduced at its ends 44 and 46, for the reception of the reduced cylindrical journal portions 48 and 50 at the ends of a hexagonal prism 52 which is thereby rotatably mounted. A turning knob 54 has its shank 56 threaded into the end 50 of the prism member 52, and has its head knurled to permit convenient turning of the prism member 52 about its longitudinal axis.

The prism member 52 has six sides 56, which may be successively viewed through the slot 40 as the prism 52 is turned by means of the knob 54. Architects scales 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, and 68, shown developed `:Figure 9, are ormed n the faces 56 or" the' .prism member 5'2,.sof that by-turn"- ing the prism about its axis, any desired architects scale may be viewed from above, through the slot 40, as shown in Figures 1 and 6.

All the scales have their zero point to the left as seen in Figure 1, and thus read vfrom left-,gto right in the view, and all zero lpoints arein alignment transversely of the rule.

A bottom plate '|0 has its upper surface .1 2 spaced from the lower surface 6 of the rule body, asmaybe seen in Figures 4 and 6, so as toprovide a `passageway it as Wide as the rule body and A,extending substantially the entire `length of the rule body, .as best Seen inFigures 3 yand. 5. The bottom plate i0 is Vsecured to the rulebody b y means ofmetal end ,fasteners 1 6 and 'I8 `which arfeheld in place by means oiscrews ,80.

rrI he passageway 14 extends from the 'point 62 to the'point 84 as shown in Figure 3, thereby .derning body portions in Whichbores and 88 are `fiormed to providey journals for bearings for the reception of the reduced unth-reade'd ends of a micrometric transversing screw 9,0 extending through the passageway u ,longitudinally of the rule body, and 'which has adjustinglknob 9.2 secured on its protrudingendwhich is .bjestfsee'n in Figures 2 and '3. AA ,micrometric Iscrew slide bar 94 has its enlarged central portion` ,96 slidable in the longitudinal grooves 9,6 and 1 00 V formed in surfaces e and4 12 respectively of the rule body `andibase plate l0. The slide b'ar'94 also has arms |02 and |04 integral with the central portion ,96 and extending Alaterallyr in opposed directions therefrom as shown in r`Figure 5, .the arms [|02 and lilli extending out of the .passageway 14 and being provided at their protruding end portions |06 and 65 With Vgrooves |'0 and l|2 respectively, for slida'ble engagement with .the lower tongues and 34 ofthe scale bearing side plates or strips l2 and ill.

The central portion 86 of 'the slide bar e4 has a threaded bore 34 4for the .threaded reception of the transyersing.micrometrc screw ,00, whereby turning Lof thescreW-,St by means of theknob 9 2 :will cause the slide bar 84 to traverse the passageway ld 'longitudinally of the rule body. Movable right and lefthandsidemarker mem, bers M4 and H6, respectively, `are `secured at theiiflower ends iid and |20, respectively, to the protruding endportions |06 and |08 .of arms |02 and i3d, and may be made integral therewith. The marker members 1| i4 and |i6 `,are .parallel to the graduated scalestrips .i2 and lll, .and have transparent Windows |122 Aand |f24,.respective ly, with-,hair-lines |26 and |28, respectively;marked on the windows as shown in-Figure il. V1-shaped notches E30 are formed in the 'lower ends of 'the marker members |54 and H6. The graduations on 4the surfaces I2 and `|4 maythus be view-ed through the windows |22 yand |24, and exactA 4 alignment with the graduations obtained by means of the hair-lines on the windows.

There are a pair of top surface plates |32 and |34 secured on each side of the slot 40 on the upper surface 4 of the rule body, and a transparent elongated window |36 is set into recesses in the edges of the members |32 and |34, so as to bridge across the slot 40, as shown in Figure 6. The sides of the plates |32 and |34 are tongued at |38 and |40. A bridging member |42 connects the upper ends of the side marker members ||4 and H6, and extends across the top surface of the rule as seen in Figures 1 and 5. This member also .has a transparent Window |44 over the .slot 40 Jwith .an appropriate hair-line, to permit viewing and alignment with the graduations lon the prism member 52.

The members 30, |02, |04, ||4, ||6 and |42 thus constitute the movable slider |46 of the rule, fandlrnay be formed of a single piece of material insofar as this is possible. A stationary zero position slider M3, comprising only three portions, namely side portions E50 and |52, and top bridging portion |50, may be xed in position at the zero ,points as best seen in Figures 1 .and 2, the slider |210 being provided with .transparent hair-lined viewing windows vSimilar to the movable slider. vLiowever, the stationary slider .is preerably made small .enough in its outside 4:dimensions, as to allow the movable slider topass over it -in either .direction so that when .the movable slider is in the rzero position the hair-lines of the vmovable and stationary sliders coincide. A pen or pencil point may be inserted into the notches |36 to mark oil the reading desired. Magnifying .glass may be used in .the transparent windows if desired, to increase visibility. To move the movable slider M6, it is vonly necessary to .turn the knob 92 in the appropriate direction.

It is thus apparent that I`have disclosed .a rule that is simple ,in construction, and versatile and accurate for use by engineers, architects, design- Vers and others.

Although 'I have described a preferred embodiment of `my multiscale rule, it is to be understood that various changes maybe made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

i claim:

A rule comprising arule vbody Vhaving parallel upper and lower surfaces, and upwardly convergent left and right side surfaces, stationary scales on said side surfaces, said rule 'body having a vbore extending longitudinally there.- through with an elongated viewing slot communi'cating between said bore and the `upper surface o f `said rule body, Ia hexagonal prism rotatably `disposed in said bore, means at one end of said prism for rotating the same, scales on Ythe faces of said prism, whereby any Vscale on said prism may be viewed by turning said Iprism to 'bring the corresponding facer-.hereof .into registry with said viewing slot, a'base plate Secured at itsends 'to said rule body and .spaced from said body intermediate lits endsto ,form apassageway open along the sides of the rule boldy -and extending longitudinally thereof, a movable slide having a lower portion thereof extending through said passageway and having vside portions with Viewing windows formed therein lying against said side surfaces o the rule body outside of `saidstationary scales thereon, said movable slide-.having a top portion lthereof `bridging across t'hey said viewing slot, with a viewing 'Window in saidtp 6 portion, a traversing screw extending longitudi- REFERENCES CITED na11y through said passageway and journaled at its ends in portions on said rule body, said screw lrghf fgwgeerens are of record m the threadedly engaging a portion of said movable slide in said passageway, whereby upon rotation 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS of said traversing screw, said movable slide may Number Nam be moved longitudlnally of said rule body, said 764 937 Friedmag Ju1yD1a2te1904 movable slide having hair-line means for align- 1 110195 Erwin Sept 8 1914 ment with a graduation of any of the scales, for 1215653 Kruege: Feb '13 1917 interpretation thereof in terms of any other scale 10 1 219 336 on the rule Miller Mar. 20, 1917 2,117,335 Koen May 17, 1938 DIXTE L- FULLILOVE- 2,124,051 cam-,ren July 19, 193s 

